CD-ROM (compact disc ready-only memory) DVD readers and burners
Today, CD-R and CD-RW media are commonly used to make back up copies of data in order to exchange information between computer systems. Due to technological advancements basic CD-R/CD-RW drives have been replaced by combo drives. i.e. they read DVD and CD-R/CD-RW media.
DVD originally stood for digital video disc, because the discs were designed to replace the old VHS tapes(Video Home System) in video stores. Now, people say it stands for digital versatile disc due to its high capacity. Physically, DVD and CD are of the same size(diameter of 120mm) but a DVD can hold information between 4.7GB and 17GB.
A single layer DVD can hold up to 4.7GB of information but a second layer doubles the data capacity of the disc. Most commercial DVD movies are encoded on dual-layer DVD’s. DVD-ROM drives can play DVD movies, read DVD data discs, read standard CD-ROM’s, and play audio CD’s. Most computers have them today and vastly utilized in home DVD players. A combination of DVD/CD-RW drive offers the advantages of a DVD-R drive and a CD-RW drive in a single unit that can play DVD movies and audio CD’s, record and erase data on CD-RW disks, burn audio CD’s and CD-ROM’s. This type of drives can not burn DVD’s but, they can burn CD-R and CD-RW media. Fortunately, DVD-RW drives are not that expensive. These types of drives can be used to burn data on CD’s and DVD’s. Early DVD burners were rated with speeds of 1X– it might take as long to record as it does to watch it. Today, drive speeds are measured in multiples of 1X. e.g. a 16X drive might record data 16 times faster than a 1X drive. N.B.Speeds can be affected by the type of media, the type of connection to the computer, and the computers software.
DVD drives are gradually being eradicated by Blu-ray drives that can read and write on media that holds up to 5OGB of data on two layers. BD-RW drivescan read and record on all types of media available. In few years time, BD drives are likely to be the standard drives in most PC’s.
Below is a chart which summarizes the capabilities of different types of drives;
Strand 3: IT Systems
3.1 Hardware
CD-ROM (compact disc ready-only memory) DVD readers and burners
Today, CD-R and CD-RW media are commonly used to make back up copies of data in order to exchange information between computer systems. Due to technological advancements basic CD-R/CD-RW drives have been replaced by combo drives. i.e. they read DVD and CD-R/CD-RW media.DVD originally stood for digital video disc, because the discs were designed to replace the old VHS tapes(Video Home System) in video stores. Now, people say it stands for digital versatile disc due to its high capacity. Physically, DVD and CD are of the same size(diameter of 120mm) but a DVD can hold information between 4.7GB and 17GB.
A single layer DVD can hold up to 4.7GB of information but a second layer doubles the data capacity of the disc. Most commercial DVD movies are encoded on dual-layer DVD’s. DVD-ROM drives can play DVD movies, read DVD data discs, read standard CD-ROM’s, and play audio CD’s. Most computers have them today and vastly utilized in home DVD players. A combination of DVD/CD-RW drive offers the advantages of a DVD-R drive and a CD-RW drive in a single unit that can play DVD movies and audio CD’s, record and erase data on CD-RW disks, burn audio CD’s and CD-ROM’s. This type of drives can not burn DVD’s but, they can burn CD-R and CD-RW media. Fortunately, DVD-RW drives are not that expensive. These types of drives can be used to burn data on CD’s and DVD’s. Early DVD burners were rated with speeds of 1X – it might take as long to record as it does to watch it. Today, drive speeds are measured in multiples of 1X. e.g. a 16X drive might record data 16 times faster than a 1X drive. N.B. Speeds can be affected by the type of media, the type of connection to the computer, and the computers software.
DVD drives are gradually being eradicated by Blu-ray drives that can read and write on media that holds up to 5OGB of data on two layers. BD-RW drives can read and record on all types of media available. In few years time, BD drives are likely to be the standard drives in most PC’s.
Below is a chart which summarizes the capabilities of different types of drives;
(read-only CD)
(read-only DVD)
(read-only Blu-ray)